Operating mechanism for washing-machines



D. LUCKWALDT.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILQD MAR. 11, 1916.

1 1 96,1 22 Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

DANIEL LUCKWALDT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

Application filed Marchll, 1916. Serial No. 83,508;

To aZZ whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, DANIEL LUGKWALDT, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Operating Mechanism for lVashing-Machines, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to improvements in a washing machine, and more particularly to the mechanism for rotating the washing cylinder of a machine of that class.

In my improved machine, the hollow cylinder, in which the clothes or other articles to be washed are placed, is rotatably mounted in a suitable receptacle containing water or cleansing fluid and is revolved either manually or by power throughthe intermediary of a transmitting mechanism which automatically changes or reverses the direction of rotation of thehollow cylinder at certain predetermined periods.

The objects of my invention are to produce a simple, strong and durable machine, to so arrange the mechanism thereof that the direction of rotation of the washing cylinder will be periodically reversed and to reversing gears.

make parts of the mechanism adjustable so that periods of the reversing operation may be varied or changed as desired.

The above and other objects I accomplish as hereinafter set forth in the following description and as particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which an embodiment of my improved washing machine is shown.

In the drawings Figure 1, is a top plan view of my improved machine, a fragmen tary section being taken at one end thereof to expose the washing cylinder. Fig. 2, is a side elevation of my improved washing machine looking in the direction of the arrow V, Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is an enlarged fragmentary top plan of the power transmitting In referring to the drawings in detail, like numerals designate corresponding parts.

The receptacle or tub 1, which is adapted to be filled or partially filled with water or washing fluid is mounted on one end of a suitable support or table 2. WVithin the receptacle, a hollow washing cylinder 3, is arranged for containing the clothes or other articles to be cleansed, being rotatably mounted inseparable bearings 4, so that the cylinder 3 may be easily lifted out of the receptacle. The shafts 5 of the cylinder project oppositely from each end thereof and the bearings 4:, are preferably formed with a hinged upper portion which can be turned up to free the shafts and permit the cylinder to be lifted out. A suitable hinged cover 6, is arranged over the receptacle or tub as shown in Fig. 2. The support or table 2, is provided with an extension frame 7, extending laterally at a right angle fro-m the end thereof, upon which an automatic reversing gear mechanism isarranged.

Referring to Fig. 3, a faced gear wheel 8, is mounted on the outer extremity of the shaft 5, and two opposed gear wheels in engagement therewith are alternately operatively engaged and disengaged with a drive shaft 10, to reverse the direction of rotation of the washing cylinder.

The extension frame 7, is preferably U- shaped as shown in Fig. 1, and it is mounted in .a horizontal, plane above the horizontal plane of the table and maintained in position by braces 9. A transverse horizontal shaft 10, isjournaled in bearings 11 in the U-shaped frame and extends across one end of and intersects the axis of the shaft 5, upon which the fajcedgear wheel 8, is mounted, being diametrically located in front of the faced gear. A pulley wheel, 12 is arranged at one end of said shaft which may be connected in any suitable manner to a source of power and a handle 13, is fitted to said pulley or wheel for hand manipulation of the same. A worm 14, is mounted upon the central portion of the transverse shaft 10, and meshes with a worm wheel 15 mounted upon a short vertical shaft 16, journaled in the U-shaped frame. The worm wheel 15, is provided with a plurality of holes or apertures 17, arranged in an annular series, in any, one or all of which projecting vertical tripping pins 18 may be fitted.

As shown particularly in Fig. 3, two opposed gear wheels 19 are mounted for free rotation on the transverse shaft 10 and are alternately operatively connected thereto by a rod 20. Said rod 20 shifts the clutch members 22 in unison, thereby alternately engaging them with and disengaging them from the gear recesses 21, as best indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The clutch members 22 are simultaneously shifted automatically in one direction to reverse the rotating direction of the washing cylinder by an angular lever 23, which is pivoted at an intermediate point to the U-shaped frame by a pivot 24, and has one end pivoted to the rod 20, connecting the clutch members. The opposite extremity of the lever is provided with an enlargement 25, which bears against the tripping pins 18 as shown in Fig. 3. The gear wheels 19 are always in mesh with the faced gear wheel but run idle except when in clutching engagement with the clutch members. The lever 23, is shifted automatically in an opposite direction when released by the pins 18, by a spring 26, which changes the clutch arrangement of the gear wheels 19 and reverses the direction of rotation of the washing cylinder. The periods of reversal can be changed as desired by varying the position of the tripping pins 18, which are removably fitted in the holes 17, and can be removed or changed at will. From this it will be noted that the range of rotation of the washing cylinder in one direction, its reversal and its range of rotation in the opposite direction can be determined as desred prevous to starting the machine, the gear mechanism automatically reversing the rotation at predetermined points which are determined by the setting of the tripping pins 18.

A gas burner 27, or other suitable heating device may be arranged beneath the receptacle or tub as shown in Fig. 2, to heat the water or washing fluid in the same, and the projecting portions 28, of the Washing cylinder support forms a convenient stand for an ordinary tub or the like.

WVhile I have illustrated and described a preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into efiect, the same is ca pable of a wide range of variation, alteration, modification and change without departing from the spirit of the invention, I therefore do not wish to be limited to the construction above set forth, but desire to avail myself of all such variations, alterations, modifications and changes that fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims, or may be construed to be within the same by involving the doctrine of equivalents.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1- 1. In a machine of the class described, a rotatable element,a faced gear wheel on said element, a transverse shaft, a worm gear wheel on said shaft, a horizontal gear wheel meshing with the worm gear wheel, two clutching gear wheels mounted for free rotation on the transverse shaft and arranged on opposite sidesof the worm gear wheel, clutching means for unrotatably locking one of said clutching gear wheels at a time to the transverse shaft, a lever for shifting said clutching means into and out of clutching engagement, said horizontal gear wheel having a series of annularly arranged holes and tripping pins adapted to be fitted in said holes and to contact with the shifting lever to move the same.

2. In a machine of the class described, a rotatable element, a faced gear wheel on said element, a transverse shaft, a worm gear wheel on said shaft, a horizontal gear wheel meshing with the worm gear wheel, two clutching gear wheels mounted for free rotation on the transverse shaft and arranged on opposite sides of the worm gear wheel, clutching means for unrotatably locking one of said clutching gear wheels at a time to the transverse shaft, a lever for shifting said clutching means into and out of clutching engagement with the gear wheels, and a spring for returning said lever and shifting the gear wheels in'the opposite direction.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my.

signature.

DANIEL LUCKWALDT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

